Heart rate variability during mindful breathing meditation
Frontiers in Physiology January 23, 2023 Aravind Natarajan 36 citations
Heart rate variability (HRV) metrics commonly used in biofeedback, such as RMSSD, preferentially weight higher-frequency heart rate fluctuations, making them unsuitable for tracking slow, mindful breathing. A new metric called the autonomic balance index (ABI) uses Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia to quantify the fraction of HRV contributed by the parasympathetic nervous system. Applied to data from two meditation techniques, ABI was significantly elevated during mindful breathing, indicating it is a good signal for biofeedback during meditation sessions.